NEWS RELEASE
Issued: 25 November 2009 for immediate release
Our reference: A|D|S PR 2009 015
SME SERVICE BOOST FROM NEW AEROSPACE & DEFENCE TRADE ORGANISATION
Delivering for SMEs –over 50% of A|D|S membership – and seeing numbers rise as a result
A|D|S, the UK's AeroSpace, Defence and Security trade organisation today (Wednesday) announced a further boost in services to meet the needs of the economically vital small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in these sectors. The trade organisation also announced a continued rise in its SME membership due to the high-quality services on offer from A|D|S and the reduced fees for many smaller members since the formation of A|D|S on 1 October 2009.
Thanks to the merger of three well-established and successful trade associations A|D|S is now able to provide services and representation at an even higher standard than ever before for UK companies of all sizes operating in the civil aerospace, defence, security and space sectors. One of the key priorities of A|D|S is to promote the interests of SMEs on both a national and international level. In the defence industry alone, the UK has more SMEs than France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Norway combined, and it is only right that the UK's national trade organisation dedicates a considerable proportion of its efforts towards ensuring this vital area of the economy is fully represented.
Major aims of A|D|S for SME members are:
* Providing practical business development, helping to win business with airframe primes and larger companies, directly with the MOD, and regionally through A|D|S Scotland and the planned A|D|S Northern Ireland offices with devolved government and internationally through our Toulouse, Delhi and Bangalore offices plus through our team of dedicated staff delivering over 120 domestic and international events and exhibitions every year.
* Lobbying on behalf of SMEs in government, other institutions and directly with the larger companies.
* A strong group of special interest groups for SMEs, over 15 in total, within the four sectors.
* Assistance in accessing growing markets in security and space.
* Support to the Regional Trade Associations in England & Wales to further their interests with the Regional Development Agencies.
Ian Godden, Chairman of A|D|S, said:
“SMEs are the engine of growth for our sector and the recession has presented them with new challenges. A|D|S delivers strength in numbers for our membership of all sizes alongside top-class services with which to grow aerospace, defence and security businesses. Our industry is a cross-regional one, with companies operating throughout the UK from Cornwall to Caithness, and it delivers immense economic, environmental and sociological benefits to the country. The industry deserves the best services a trade organisation can provide and A|D|S is proud to work on behalf of it, and provide these services for all its members, from the smallest to the largest.”
SMEs & A|D|S: 10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BE A MEMBER
1. With its strong membership at all levels of the supply chain, A|DS gives companies unrivalled opportunities for networking and relationship building in the civil aerospace, defence, security and space sector supply chains.
2. A|D|S provides excellent notification services for market opportunities at home and abroad in all four market sectors.
3. A|D|S offers excellent vehicles for companies in the supply chain to debate issues and raise concerns via the Aerospace Members Committee and the Small Companies Committee.
4. A|D|S' ownership of the Farnborough business, management of the Farnborough Air Show and development of new ventures at Farnborough such as the HOSDB, provides a fantastic showcase for companies who want to find new customers.
5. A|D|S helps small companies to build their export business through its excellent overseas connections, including offices in Bangalore, Delhi and Toulouse; participation in many overseas shows and work with UKTI on overseas missions to key markets.
6. For small companies membership of A|D|S is very reasonably priced compared with trade associations in other sectors.
7. A|D|S offers a democratic environment, much more so than comparable associations in other countries, in which the voice of the smaller business is heard throughout the organisation.
8. A|D|S has experienced and influential staff who can take up issues raised by smaller companies and can pursue them in the right channels of government and in broader lobbying organisations such as the CBI.
9. A|D|S is an excellent channel to find out about emerging legislation that will affect business at all levels of the supply chain and get advice on what to do and where to go for specialist help.
10. A|D|S runs the trail-blazing SC21 programme that seeks to improve efficiency at all levels of the supply chain and build better relationships from the smallest company to the end customer.
Dick Martin, Chairman of Kembrey Wiring Systems, an SME operating across the aerospace and defence sectors based in Swindon, said:
“Joining A|D|S has been one of the best moves we ever made. For a modest fee – which has reduced since the APPSS, DMA, and SBAC merger – we have access to a huge array of support services and networking opportunities that have helped our business to grow quite significantly over the last couple of years. With both industry events and business support services, A|D|S are a real help for SMEs active in the aerospace, defence and security sectors and I wholeheartedly recommend membership.”
A|D|S SME facts:
* A|D|S represents over 800 member companies.
* A|D|S represents more than 550 SMEs.
* Since the creation of A|D|S just 8 weeks ago on 1 October following the merger of APPSS, DMA & SBAC a further 20 SMEs have joined the organisation.
Mr Godden continued:
“With the former DMA staff's expertise and experience, we are looking forward to building on and creating a wider and stronger relationship with the SME community across our sectors. Throughout A|D|S we are seeking to consolidate on the services we provide for this sizeable part of our membership, as well as enhancing these and, where the membership deems necessary, introducing new services. Our recent opening of offices in Bangalore and Delhi, at the request of members seeking to engage with the Indian market is a clear example of this.
“Through both our Aerospace Members Committee and the Small Companies Committee, A|D|S also offers excellent vehicles for companies in the supply chain to debate issues and raise their concerns. Through these bodies, and with the experienced and influential staff, A|D|S is able to take up these issues and pursue them in the right channels of government, national and regional media as well as broader lobbying organisations such as the CBI.
“For example, recently an SME raised the issue of protecting the intellectual property of SMEs in the defence sector and we helped him get his point across to the Conservatives' Dr Liam Fox and we have also logged the issue with the Government via Lord Mandelson.”
ENDS
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